Apparatus for applying binders to boxes and packages



June 3, 192

E. E. FLORA mm FOR mum-13mm. T0 BOXES AND PACKAGES 2 sheets -sheet 1 Filed March 17. 1919 E. E. FLORA APPARATUS FOR APPLYING BINDERS TO BOXES AND PACKAGES Filed March 17.. 1919 2 Sheets-Sheat R M llww -s Q fi u iwm W nw v Patented June 3, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELLSWORTH E. FLORA, DECEASED, LATE OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS; BY LUELLA B.

' FLORA, EXECUTRIX, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T SIGNODE SYSTEM, IN- v CORPORATED, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ACO'RPORATION OF DELAWARE.

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING BINDERS TO BOXES AND PACKAGES.

Application filed March 17, 1919. Serial No. 283,207.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that ELLswoR'rH E. FLORA, deceased, late a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook 6 and State of Illinois, did invent an Improvement in Apparatus for Applying Binders to Boxes and Packages, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to devices for applying tensional binders to boxes, packages,-

or the like. It is the purpose of the. invention to provide a device of the character described, simple in construction and easy and efiicient in operation.

In the illustrative embodiment of the inventions disclosed in the accompanying drawings, the device takes the form'of a hand'tool adapted to operate upon flat tensional box strapping, to stretch this boxstrapping about'a box or package with its ends mutually'overlapped and thereafter to join the overlapped ends by forming therein a simultaneous crim of the character disclosed in the patent to lora No. 1,038,108, dated September 10,1912.

' It .being understood that the drawin s disclose an illustrative embodiment mere y of the invention, and that the latter is not confined to the specific form shown in the drawings: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an appliance constructed in accordance. with my invention. 'Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation thereof on the line 33, of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a sec- 3a tional elevation on the line 4-4, of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing the parts'in another position. Fig. "6 is a sectional elevation on the line 66, of Fig. 3.

In Figs. 2 and 3; the hand tool is shown as in operation upon a box strap applied about a box or package whose overlapped ends land 2 have been brought into cooperative relation with the tool.

For clarity of description I shall first describe separately the two essential functioning parts of the'tool, referring only to their more important operating elements, and then describe in detail the construction of 50 the tool and the cooperative relationships of the elements thereof.

The means for stretching or tensioning the strap comprise essentially feed wheel 3, having a pair of knurled strap grippin rims .ing mechanism, is a strap joining element.

4, which feeds forward the top over apped strap end 2, the end sliding longitudinally along the bottom overlapped strap end lv which is maintained in relatively stationary position by a suitable stationaryclutch plug 5 engaging the lower face. This operation continues until the required degree of tension is placed the to strapend 2 being forced to the left (Fig. 3) while the.'bottom end 1 is maintalned relatively sta tionary with respect to the tool by the-plug.

Cooperatively associated with the stretching mechanism and adapted to act upon the overlapped portions of the strap ends presented in appropriate position by the stretch- Thus I provide a pair of crimping jaws 6, operating in combination with a centering device or chair 7, which serves to form a simultaneous crimp in the overlapped strap ends, as presented by the stretching eletogether. it

It will be apparent from aninspection of Fig. 1 that the central stationary element or base of the tool comprises a heavy integral structure U-shaped in cross section haying a pair of vertical side pieces 19 with which is integrally formed the handle 10. This supports all of the operating parts of the tool. Below the handle 10 is mounted an operating handle 11 for the stretching elements of the appliance; and above it is mounted the operating handle 12 for the strap joining elements. Thus the two main functioning elements in the tool, may be operated alternately without changing the position of the tool, the operator for the stretching operation, squeezing the-handle 11 toward the stationary handle 10; and for the sealing operation, releasing handle 11 and grasping and squeezing the other pair'of handles, namely handles lO and 12. g

I will now describe more particularlythe ments, connecting the strap ends securely precise mechanical construction of'the embodi'ment of the tool represented in the drawings:-' The feed wheel 3 is provided between the knurled rims 4 with a recess in which are formed ratchet teeth 15 by means of which the feed wheel is intermittently rotated. A. detent pawl 16 mounted-upon 105 pin. 18 in the'verti'cal side '19 of the tool and held to'its duty by the s ring 17 serves to maintain the feed whee against slipping handle 11 near its pivot serve to limit the play of handle 11, in either direction, as clearly shown in the drawings.

The feed wheel 3 may move up and down for the purpose of binding the overlapped strap ends against-the'clutch plug 5 during the stretchin operation and to release the strap ends a ter the stretching and oining operations are finished. For th s purpose I provide a shaft 26 provided with an operating handle 27 normally maintained in ver tical position under the influence of a spring 28 wrapped around the extending end of the shaft 29 and engaged therewith at one end and with the vertical side of the tool base 19 at the other end. The spring maintams the handle 27 against the stop 29'. The portion of the shaft 26 between the two vertical side pieces of the frame 19, is formed into an integral eccentric 30 upon which the feed wheel 3 is revolubly mounted. The spring 28 holds the eccentric 30 in a position to engagle the strap with considerable force; by pu ing the handle 27 rearward (to the right, Fig. 1) the feed wheel 3 can be raised to release the strap.

As a. bottom support for the strap during the stretching, operation, I provide the extended angle piece 32, the vertical flange of which is rigidly mounted to one of the ver-' tical side pieces 19; the horizontal portion of the piece 33 serves as a foot or rest for the entire tool and carries the clutch plug 5. The foot 33 is tapered at its outer edge as indicated at 34 and in effect provides a slot between the foot 33 and the feed wheel 3 into which the overlapped strap ends are inserted when the tool is slipped sideways upon them. The foot 33 is smooth on its bottom face to permit sliding on the surface of the box.

The side frames 19, extend-forwardly as indicated at 36, and are provided at their forward upper ends with upstanding lugs 37 through which is passed the screw pin which forms a ivot for the handle 12, the latter being hollowed out adjacent to this pivot and provided with the ears 39 surrounding the pin 38.

The handle 12 as above stated is the operating handle for the crimping or sealing jaws and for this purpose is provided forneeaeee upper ends of the pivoted crimping jaws 6.

The crimping jaws 6 are held against the cam 42 by the tension spring 45 and rock on a common pivot bolt 50, provided at its rearward end with a reduced extension 51 which is threaded into the block 52, seated between forward extensions 36 of the pieces 19. The jaws 6 are mounted on the bolt 50 by means of two pairs of integrally formed overlapping concentric spaced ears 53 which are re"- olubly mounted on the bolt 50 (see Fig. 3). At their lower ends the crimping jaws 6 are each provided with an inwardly projecting flange 55 forming a rounded edge as clearly indicated in Fig. 3; and centrally in the lower part of each jaw just above the flange 55, is mounted a pin 56 the inward edge of which 57 in combination with the edge 53 of the jaws 6 serves to eifect the simultaneous crimping of the box strapping into a tight joint when the jaws are strongly forced together by the operation of the handle 12. The screws 59 are let into the crimping jaws 6 to maintain the pins 56 firmlyin position.

In order to form a uniform and correct crimp joint inthe overlapped box strap ends, I provide a chair device 7 (previouslyalluded to) which constitutes a forward integral extension of the block 52 which is firmly riveted betwmen the side pieces of the frame 19 and thus affords an absolutely rigid mil a backing for the crimp joint. The chair device 7 is provided with an integral upwardly extending lug 62 which snugly encircles the bolt 50' between the ears 53. Thus the bolt 50 is maintained by being screwed firmly crimping jaws against which shoulders the vertical side pieces 19 of the base squarely abut.

In operation the tool may easily be applied to overlapped box strapping encircling a box or package B by slipping it side 12 ways thereon so as to introduce the strap ends into the slot between the foot 33 and the feed wheel 3 shown in Fig. 6. When in this position of the parts the crimping jaws 6 which are normally held apart by the action of the spring 45 lie flush with the median plane of the overlapped strap ends ready to move inward to seize the same and perform a crimping operation thereon whenever the v I operator desires. The operator next releases the handle 27, which it is understood has been drawnback to separate the feed wheel 3 and clutch plug 5 so as to engage the overlapped ends rmly between the clutch plug 5 and the feed wheel 3; and repeatedly squeezes the handle 11 toward the handle 10.

This operation tensions the strap about the box or package to whatever degree desired. Next the operator releases the handle 11, and by grasping the handles 12 and 10 and squeezin these handles together joins the strap en s together. Thereupon by releasing the handle 12 and drawing back the eccentric handle 27 the tool may he slipped sideways off the box strap ends leaving behind it a binder both stretched and joined about the package.

What is claimed is:

1. In a toolfor applying box binders to boxesor the like stretching means comprising a binder engaging element, a lever for operating said binder engaging element to stretch the binder; binder end joining means comprising a lever, a support for said means, and a common backin handle adapted to be utilized with and m theoperation of either lever independently of the other.

2. In a tool of the class described, a support, a shaft carried by said support, a pair of opposed levers pivotally mounted upon said shaft at points intermediate their ends,

. said levers being provided at their lower ends with crimping jaws, and at their upper ends with wedge engaging screws, a wedge disposed between said screws, a lever for operating said wedge, and, spring means normally holding the screws against said wedge.

3. In a tool of the class described, a 'support, a pair of levers pivotally mounted on said support, said levers being provided at their lower ends with jaws, and a lever for actuating said pair of levers to force said jaws toward each other.

4. In a tool of the class described, a support, a pair of levers pivotally mounted intermediate their ends on said support, said levers being. provided at their lower ends with jaws, an operating lever, and means actuated by said operating lever for forcing the upper ends of the levers of' said pair from each other.

5. In a tool of-the class described, a support, a pair of opposed levers pivotally mounted on saidsupport at points intermediate their ends, said levers being pro vided at their lower ends with co-operating jaws, a wedge disposed between the upper ends of said levers, and an actuating lever for operating said wedge to force the upper ends of said levers from each other.

6. In a tool of the class described, a support, a pair of opposed levers pivotally mounted on said support at points intermediate their ends, said levers being projaws, a wedge disposed between the upper ends ofsaid levers, an actuating lever for operating said wedge to force the upper ends ofsaid levers from each other, and spring means normally forcing the upper ends of said levers toward said wedge.

7. In a tool for applying flat tensional binders to boxes or the like, a support, means on said support operable to stretch a flat tensional box binder about a box or packa e, a lever for operating said means, means or crimping the overlapped ends of the binder together to form a tension resisting joint, a lever for operating said last-mentioned means, and a common backing handle fixed to said support and adapted to 00-0 crate with said first and second-mentioned evers successively in the operation of the tool.

8. In a tool for tensioning a flat binder about a package and uniting the overlapped ends thereof, rotatable means arran ed to frictionally engage one end of the inder to tension said binder upon rotation of said means, and means for formin a tension resisting joint in the overlappe binderends, said first mentioned means bein arranged to maintain tension in said bin er durm the operation of saidsecond-mentione means.

9. In a tool for tensioning a fiat binder about a package and uniting the overlapped ends thereof, a support, rotatable means on said support arranged to frictionally engage one end of a binder to tension said binder uponrotation of said means, a lever for rotating said rotatable means, means for forming a tension resisting joint in the overlapped binder ends, a lever for operating said second mentioned means, and a common backing lever adapted to co-operate with said first and second mentioned levers successively in the operation of said too 10. In a tool for tensioning a flat binder about a package and uniting the overlapped ends thereof, a "support, rotatable means on said support arranged to frictionally engage one end of said binder to tension said binder upon rotation of said means, a lever to rotate said rotatable means, a pair of 0pposed levers pivotally mounted on said support, said levers being provided with crimping jaws at their lower ends, a second lever for operating the levers of said pairs to force said jaws toward each other, a common backing lever fixed to said sup ort and adapted to co-operate with said rst and second mentioned levers successively in the operation of said tool.

11. In a tool for tensioning a flat binder about a package and uniting the overlapped ends thereof, a support, rotatable means on said support arran ed to frictionally engage one end of sai binder to tension said asse ses binder upon rotation of said means, a lever for rotating said rotatable means, a pair of opposed levers pivotally mounted at points intermediate their ends on said support, said levers being provided at their lower ends each other, and a common backing lever 10 fixed to said support and adapted to eo-operate with said first and'seeond mentioned operating levers successively in the operation of said tool In testimony whereof "I have signed my 15 name to this specification.

7 LUELLA B. FLORA, Emecu-tm'a: of Ellsworth E. Flam, deceased 

